HI-NRG Labels/Producers/Remixers

[Energyguy]

Ok guys..
Use this thread to talk about your favourite HI-NRG/Eurobeat record labels/producers/remixers etc...

[Magnifique]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

Ok guys..
Use this thread to talk about your favourite HI-NRG/Eurobeat record labels/producers/remixers etc...

Hi Energyguy:

Is this a question and/or an invitation for us to make a statement and lay our cards on the table?

I'd like to say that I buy records and collect music, not labels. In the eighties my answer would have been different (there were quite a few labels I liked), but we live here and now in 2007 and not in 1984. If asked I would say that my favourite HI NRG label is Klone Records in the UK; favourite producer, mixer/remixer: Ian Anthony Stephens.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by Magnifique

Hi Energyguy:

Is this a question and/or an invitation for us to make a statement and lay our cards on the table?

I'd like to say that I buy records and collect music, not labels. In the eighties my answer would have been different (there were quite a few labels I liked), but we live here and now in 2007 and not in 1984. If asked I would say that my favourite HI NRG label is Klone Records in the UK; favourite producer, mixer/remixer: Ian Anthony Stephens.

No hidden agenda with this...
I thought it would be good to discuss our favourite record labels from ALL eras of HI-NRG/Eurobeat. This area of music has seen many record labels/producers come and go and some are still very active today.

[Magnifique]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

No hidden agenda with this...
I thought it would be good to discuss our favourite record labels from ALL eras of HI-NRG/Eurobeat. This area of music has seen many record labels/producers come and go and some are still very active today.

Thanks! Good idea. I'm sure there will be some exciting discussions as part of this new thread.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by Magnifique

Thanks! Good idea. I'm sure there will be some exciting discussions as part of this new thread.

Its interesting to see how the music evolved from the "proto" hi-nrg tracks of yje early 80`s by well know producers such as Bobby O.. through to the more well known stuff by the likes of ian Anthony Stephens, Patrick Cowley, Ian Levine etc... Lets not forget all the great labels/producers in Europe that brought us the italo disco.
HI-NRG may have "fallen by the wayside" as we entered the 90`s but new labels flourished non the less. Almighty and Klone are still going today and regularly utilise the talents of well known producers and vocalists.

[marmite7]

I loved everything on Break, ecen though some tracks were licensed from other labels - same with Rams Horn I suppose!

In the early days, you coldn't go wrong with new releases from Passion and soon snapped up everything that came out. I later did the same DJ International & Traxx label when House kicked in n took over in the gay clubs.

Electricity was short-lived and as everyone was a cover version, cept their one attempt at UK Electro (Broken Glass or sommat?) which fetchs big bucks now, they were OK.

You can't beat Cowley or Lime for their productions, with Megatron Man & Gold Digger being my two faves by them.

[kdavid13]

Not to sound too predictable but RECORD SHACK with their wonderful hits and the great RECORD SHACK Presents Vol.1 double album was my all-time favorite NRG label.
From there I became a huge Ian Levine fan so I bought everything on NIGHTMARE too.

A little later I became obsessed with the SAW sound and collecting everything on PWL was essential.

Then I bought my first compilation on ALMIGHTY and became hooked.
Any time I saw an import 12in on the label ; I 'd get it.When they started doing outside stuff I'd try to pick it up too.

I still love the almighty ALMIGHTY sound.

[Energyguy]

The RECORD SHACK catalogue is very impressive and produced some gems.. Interesting to note that from 1985 they kinda shifted towards a slower soul sound rather than hi-nrg. the Barbara Pennington album " Out of the Darkest Night" IMO is the "crowning moment" for Record Shack - a real classy set.
RAMS HORN were another great fave of mine and I regularly purchased many of the imports on this great label. I remember buying Carol Jiani`s version of "Don`t Leave mr this way" and thought it was sensational.
When ALMIGHTY & KLONE arrived at the latter end of the burgeoning hi-nrg scene I did not expect them to survive as long as they have. ALMIGHTY produced some good solid stuff like "Baby Don`t Cha Leave this this way" by Royal Y featuring Earlene Bentley.. Definitely one of their finest releases. The success of the TV drama QUEER AS FOLK definitely did wonders for the labels profile.
KLONE have also released some quality modern NRG tracks and I love their early releases by PRIMA/ANGIE GOLD (Wheels on fire/Eat you up (remixes)/Paul Parker (Wicked Game).
Ian Anthony Stephens has always produced top quality hi-nrg tracks and he still appears to be active on the hi-nrg scene. I actually know very little about this particular producer which is a shame considering his body of work over the years. If anyone has any info on Ian please let us know !

[marmite7]

Heya Neil - I take it you've already seen this?

Ian Anthony Stephens

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by marmite7

Heya Neil - I take it you've already seen this?

Ian Anthony Stephens

hey,thanks for that Mark - That is quite a list of credits .

[marmite7]

Wow - this was great reading (albeit with a couple of errors), and it actually made my eyes leak at one point!

Patrick Cowley1

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by kdavid13

Not to sound too predictable but RECORD SHACK with their wonderful hits and the great RECORD SHACK Presents Vol.1 double album was my all-time favorite NRG label.
From there I became a huge Ian Levine fan so I bought everything on NIGHTMARE too.

A little later I became obsessed with the SAW sound and collecting everything on PWL was essential.

Then I bought my first compilation on ALMIGHTY and became hooked.
Any time I saw an import 12in on the label ; I 'd get it.When they started doing outside stuff I'd try to pick it up too.

I still love the almighty ALMIGHTY sound.

I have mixed feelings about the PWL output. IMO their earlier productions were far better than the stuff they produced in the late 80s/90s with Kylie/Jason etc..
My faves are the tracks they produced for artists such as O`CHI BROWN, PRINCESS, HAZELL DEAN, DIVINE,HAYWOODE. Some of the tracks for Bananarama were good such as I HEARD A RUMOUR, A pop/dance classic

[marmite7]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

I have mixed feelings about the PWL output. IMO their earlier productions were far better than the stuff they produced in the late 80s/90s with Kylie/Jason etc..
My faves are the tracks they produced for artists such as O`CHI BROWN, PRINCESS, HAZELL DEAN, DIVINE,HAYWOODE. Some of the tracks for Bananarama were good such as I HEARD A RUMOUR, A pop/dance classic

Neil - the Nana's Albums are all being remastered & re-released

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by marmite7

Wow - this was great reading (albeit with a couple of errors), and it actually made my eyes leak at one point!

Patrick Cowley1

A great bit of info on a musical legend
Rather touching and a fabulous tribute.....

[Andy Farley]

I was a bit of a late bloomer , not setting foot in a club till 1987 so missed a lot of hi-nrg years! But for me at that time the labels that put out consistently good tracks were Hotsound & Made Up , especially Sisley Ferre. She had an amazing voice, and the songs written by Erik van Vliet were so full of emotion. She also sang on Special Touch - Love Gun and the two Paparazzi singles 'Now Is The Time' and 'I Need Your Love'